Author Notes
This is a grown up dessert; it’s not overly sweet, has a bitter edge and brings complex flavors that bloom in progression on the tongue. First sharp chocolate, then a hit of cardamom with a curry background, morphing into orange, then back into chocolate with a lingering clove finish. A spoonful of slightly sweetened whipped cream on top helps even the whole thing out. It would be lost on children, who are normally pretty stupid and become agitated if you switch out the jam flavor on their PB&J.
It’s not their fault, it’s just how they are. You were stupid once too, and would not have appreciated this dessert. Thank god you’ve grown. —thursdaynightsmackdown
Ingredients
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1.5 cups
heavy cream
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1.5 cups
whole milk
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6
green cardamom pods, crushed
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4
whole cloves
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2 teaspoons
curry powder
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1/4 teaspoon
orange oil (OR: grated rind from one orange)
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6 ounces
high quality dark chocolate
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6
egg yolks
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3 tablespoons
sugar
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1 pinch
salt
Directions
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Pre-heat your oven to 300.
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Heat the first six ingredients together over low heat, so the milk and cream heat up gradually and the spices have a chance to steep a bit – 10 minutes or so.
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While the cream is heating, chop the chocolate and put it in a large measuring cup or bowl with a spout. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks, sugar and salt. Heat a pot of water to a simmer.
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When the cream hits a simmer, pour it through a strainer over the chocolate; you don’t want the cardamom pods or cloves in your pots. Let the chocolate sit for a few minutes, then whisk until the chocolate is fully melted and the mixture is smooth.
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Slowly pour the chocolate mixture into the eggs, whisking constantly, then pour the complete batter (Is it a batter? I don’t really know.) back through the strainer into your measuring cup/spouted bowl.
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Fill 6 6-ounce ramekins with the chocolate mix. Put a kitchen towel in the bottom of a large baking dish large enough to hold the ramekins with an inch or two between each once. Fill the pan with enough of the hot water to come about halfway up the ramekins. Cover the pan tightly with foil and put it into the oven.
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Bake for 45 minutes. When you pull them out, they should still be jiggly. Remove them from the water bath, let cool on the counter for an hour and then refrigerate for at least 3 or 4.
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Serve with some lightly sweetened whipped cream.
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